Regional

11:21 pm

Sun May 23, 2010

County Opposes Otero Mesa Monument

Alamogordo – Otero County commissioners have approved an ordinance requiring local consideration before any designation of Otero Mesa as a national monument.

The vote came Thursday after two hours of discussion at a standing-room-only meeting that had been moved to a larger space.

In March, Gov. Bill Richardson sent a letter to the Obama administration saying he supported considering national monument status for Otero Mesa. The governor referred to reports listing sites that could be designated as monuments through the federal Antiquities Act, which gives presidents authority to designate monuments without congressional approval.

Commissioner Clarissa McGinn says the ordinance would require any agency to come to the county and citizens before taking action to create an Otero Mesa national monument.